"Explore, dig, seize happiness" - Goethe for almost every situation in life. Since Loriot, we know that a life without a pug is meaningless. But what about without Goethe? That depends entirely on our perception of Goethe, as the tone of this charming and light-hearted exploration of Goethe's life suggests. Stefan Bollmann presents Germany's greatest poet in a way we haven't seen before: more of a contemporary than a classic, not a master, but a liberator. His book is a playful and highly practical initiation into Goethe's world of thought and many of his works - and an encouragement to follow the path of one's own creativity.